"What do we do? He's getting stronger by the day!" Mayumi Tanimoko, a 15-year-old girl with fair skin and golden hair and eyes, shook her best friend by the shoulder, 15-year-old Furia Fukuhara, a girl with pale skin, white hair, and soft blue eyes.
"I don't know! We have to end this, we can't let him hurt any more people."
They were sitting in a warehouse, contemplating their next move. They looked on a nearby TV to see the news, confirming their worst fears.
"It's reported that Lord Vortex has gotten even stronger! He just blew up a nearby military base! We don't know the casualties, but it's looking bad!" Both girls gritted their teeth, glaring at the news.
"We have to do something!" Mayumi exclaimed, clenching her fists. Just at that moment, some of their allies came into the warehouse. Jun, Naoki, and Satomi.
"What's the status of the situation?" Jun asked, heart racing. "Has it calmed down?"
Satomi pointed to the news. "Seems the demon has gotten even more powerful. We don't stand a chance."
Naoki began to pace back and forth. "Damn, damn, damn. Any technology? Artifacts? Special techniques?"
Mayumi shook her head. "No. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. The bastard destroyed them all when he ravaged our last base...and killed Ayano and Akito, along with so many more..."
Furia sat down and buried her face in her hands. "It's nothing we can do. It's hopeless. He wins."
Jun folded his arms. "Come on, guys, I know it looks bad, but he can't be IMMORTAL! It has to be SOME way to beat him!"
"Breaking news! Another military building has been destroyed! Everyone inside...has been killed!"
Mayumi clenched her fists again and stood up.
"Come on, we're going to visit Kōichi. We're putting an end to this, once and for all."
They all nodded and got their things. Furia took Mayumi aside. "Are you sure we should visit him? Last time we did, his 'projects' didn't help much."
"Yes. I'm sure. I'll get justice for those we lost, even if I die trying."
Furia sighed but straightened herself. "Alright."
They left the warehouse, allies already waiting in a black van for them.
"Hop in!" Jun called out.
Mayumi got in the front, sitting next to Jun, who was driving. Furia got in the back with the rest.
"Drive to Kōichi's."
"On it!"
He hit the gas, taking them away from the warehouse towards the familiar streets of NYC. Cars were in a hurry, bumping into each other as they attempted to get home.
Mayumi watched it all, a sympathetic look in her eyes.
"Those poor civilians...all because of one man."
Satomi shook her head. "He's not a man, he's a monster."
The car continued to drive down the city streets. The rest of the ride was silent until they reached an apartment complex. Jun parked in front of it.
"Let's go see if he's home."
They got out and walked inside the main building. A young female desk clerk was inside, pointing a rifle at them.
"Who...who are you? Are you one of Vortex's men?"
Mayumi walked forward, hands raised in surrender. "No, please. We're here to visit Kōichi Fujimoto. Can you let us pass?"
The clerk began to relax but didn't drop the gun. "Why? What business do you have with him?"
"Listen, we want to stop Lord Vortex just as much as the rest of you do. We'll need Kōichi's help to do that, though. I'm begging you, please let us see him."
She hesitated for a moment, but then she put it down. "Fine, I'll buzz you in."
She pressed a button on her desk, and the elevator door to the apartments opened. Mayumi bowed to her before continuing.
"Thank you."
Everyone else also expressed their thanks as they got into the elevator. Jun's huge size began to squish them, making it hard for Furia to press the button.
"Move over...you oversized gorilla!"
"I can't! I'm not an elevator guy, okay?"
Satomi's face was pressed against the wall. "Seems you're not much of an exercise guy, either."
"Hey!"
Furia just barely managed to hit the button to floor five, and the elevator took them upwards.
"Okay, he should still be in the last room on the left," she remarked.
Once they'd gotten up to the fifth floor, they made their way down the hall, seeing a room with mysterious orbs attached to the doorknob. It also had a mysterious "X" symbol carved in the middle of the door."
"Yep...that's him alright," Mayumi commented.
She knocked on the door, and a voice sang out.
"Helloooo! Who wants to visit meeee? For you shall see I have plentyyyyy!"
"Kōichi, it's Mayumi and company. Open the damn door."
"Oh."
The door clicked open, and a young man with messy hair and olive skin was standing behind it. He didn't have on a shirt, and his shorts were dirty.
Furia just sighed. "I was right, this IS a bad idea."
Kōichi gave them an elegant bow. "Come in, dear friends! What shall I do for you today?"
Mayumi and the others entered the living room, admiring the vast amounts of trinkets lined up on the shelves.
"Wow, you've collected even more than the last time we've been here..."
"Of course! An item for every occasion! I am a professional artifact collector, after all."
Furia grabbed a metal sword. "What's this do?"
He immediately rushed to take it out of her hands. "That! That is an explosive katana! It detonates if held for more than 20 seconds!"
"WHAT? Why do you have it?"
He quickly put it back in its place. "Because it's cool."
Furia rolled her eyes. Jun picked up a wooden axe. "Is this a bomb too?"
"Nope. That just attaches itself to the user permanently. Wherever you go, no matter what, it can never leave your hand."
"HUH?"
He tried to drop it, but it was as if it was glued to his palm.
"Kōichi, get this thing off me!
Kōichi laughed. "Of course. It's simple!"
He leaned towards the axe and whispered:
"Apple."
Immediately, it fell to the ground, and Jun breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness, man. I sure didn't wanna be walking around like some axe-wielding serial killer!"
Naoki picked up a strawberry. "Hmm. Surely this is harmless?"
"Eat it and find out!"
Naoki shrugged and consumed the berry. His body began to feel light and he floated in the air. "Witchcraft..."
But he kept floating, even hitting the roof. "May I please be allowed down now?"
"The effects will wear off in 20 minutes!"
Satomi grabbed a gnome statue but she instantly dropped it when it began to laugh at her. "Eek!"
Mayumi approached Kōichi. "Okay, enough games! We need something that can kill Lord Vortex, permanently! His reign of terror has gone on too long!"
The room was filled with silence. Eventually, Kōichi winked at her. "So you need a weapon to kill an Alpha? I got just what you need!"
"What on earth is an alpha, and where was this before?"
Kōichi went into his bedroom, before bringing out a tranquilizer gun. "Use this."
"We're not trying to give him a good night's sleep, Kōichi."
"It's even better. It'll weaken him, and disorient him to the point he can be taken out. I made this from special materials I acquired."
"From where?"
"Don't worry about that. Here, take it!" He handed her the gun, and everyone crowded around to look at it.
"Do you think this will help us?" Furia asked, examining it. "Can it really end this?"
Naoki, staring from above, squinted to get a better look. "Tranquilizing him? That sounds like a risky play."
Satomi shrugged. "Not any more risky than not doing anything."
Jun pumped his fist into the air. "Yes! We've got a way to stop him! Let's go!"
Mayumi clenched it in her hands. "Yes, let's go stop him."
"Breaking news," the news from Kōichi's TV commented. "Lord Vortex is held up in the Empire State Building! Who knows what devious plans he has for the city now?"
Mayumi patted Kōichi on the shoulder. "Thanks. Now let's see if it works."
She pulled a knife from her belt, clutching it in her hands. "Don't worry, Akito. This will be over soon."
The group headed out the door, and Kōichi smirked. "Get it done, gang."
The group left and got in the van, driving towards the Empire State Building.
Inside it, a "man" in black armor and a cape, with horns on his head and a cruel black mask that sported glowing blue eyes, sat on a makeshift throne. He had a silver amulet around his neck.
"Ahh, feels good to be in this place. My first time visiting it. Do you like your job here, Kei?"
A young lady trembled in front of him. "Please, please don't hurt me! I won't tell anyone! I promise!"
"Is that so?"
"Yes! Please let me go!"
He waved his hand dismissively. "Fine. Leave. But don't you dare snitch."
She scurried away. The man, Lord Vortex, took a glass of wine and began to sip. His mask formed a mouth below his nose, cruel and twisted.
CRASH.
He heard a noise that came from the lower levels of the building. He stood up, gently setting the wine glass down.
"Who is that? The police, come to try and arrest me again?"
There was no response. He waited a moment, before turning back to his throne. Just then...
BANG!
Bullets went through his chest, drawing black blood. He turned behind him to see Jun, reloading a gun, pointed at him.
"No cops, demon. Just us!"
Mayumi pointed her knife at him. "Go, guys! Let's end him once and for all!"
She charged at him with her knife, with the others behind her, but Lord Vortex waved his hand and a bunch of rabid dogs, formed from shadow, rose from the ground and attacked. They stopped their halt, using their weapons to try and fend off the dogs.
"Can't get close! Jun, shoot some of these things!"
"Done and done!"
Jun began rapidly firing his pistol at the dogs' heads, putting them down one by one. Furia used a bow to shoot the ones Jun missed, and Satomi pulled out a whip, keeping the dogs away from her.
Naoki stood back, tossing smoke grenades to impair their vision. Mayumi stabbed her knife into the head of a dog, before tossing its body at Lord Vortex.
"You're next!"
As they dwindled the number of the dogs even more, Lord Vortex moved in a blur and pushed her to the ground. Furia noticed this and shot more arrows at him, one of which hit his forehead.
"Get away from her, creep!"
Mayumi rolled away as Jun shot more bullets at him. Naoki threw a smoke grenade his way, and Satomi used her whip to restrain his arm when he tried to push Mayumi, who slashed his chest.
"What is this? You all finally got tired of losing, and made this useless attempt to defeat me?"
Mayumi tried to punch him but he dodged it.
"It's not an attempt! It'll be a victory!"
Lord Vortex dodged her next attack, sidestepping it. When Naoki tried to throw a flash bang at him, he shot a blast of dark energy at it, which knocked it out of the air and hit Naoki, who immediately clutched his chest.
When he removed his hand, he saw he had a gaping hole in it, and he collapsed to the ground. Everyone watched in horror.
"NAOKI!"
He weakly reached out his hand, whispering:
"Finish...the mission..."
Mayumi screamed out in anger and slashed Lord Vortex's neck. "DIE!"
Furia shot another arrow at him, but he caught it and plunged it into Jun's shoulder when he tried to sneak up on him.
"Damn...it..."
He knocked Jun back with a wave of his hand. Satomi used her whip and wrapped it around his legs, but he easily lifted one and broke it.
"This is pathetic. You came for nothing."
He raised his hands, dark energy coursing through them, but Mayumi pointed the tranquilizer gun at him, face determined.
"No, no we didn't."
He immediately swatted it out of her hands.
"A stupid gun? WOW, what a bold move. Next time, don't pull it right in front of my face!"
Mayumi gave a grim smile. "Next time, look before you run your mouth, jackass."
He immediately felt a stabbing pain behind his back. He looked to see Furia stabbing him in the back with the dart. His body immediately began to ache and feel numb and slowly began to shut down.
"What—-?"
She kicked him to the ground, before stomping on his face a few times. "Take this!"
Before he could even get up, Mayumi was sitting on his chest, knife raised high.
"Wait, no—-!"
"DIE, monster!"
She plunged it down into his chest, striking his heart, and he began to gurgle blood. She twisted it deeper, and with one final pained breath, he lay still.
Everyone took a minute to catch their breath, relieved and in tears.
"It's over, it's finally over..."
But they saw Naoki on the ground, coughing, and they all immediately rushed over to him. Mayumi cradled his head.
"Naoki! You'll be okay! We just need to get you out of here!"
He coughed blood and pointed to his chest. "This wound's fatal. Just tell me...did you get him?"
Furia, crying, leaned over him. "Yes! Yes, we got him! Please, please don't die!"
He smiled, one last time. "Good. Then...you've avenged...us all..."
Then he closed his eyes, and everyone just stood still in shock. Mayumi looked up and cried.
"Akito...Ayano...Naoki...everyone..."
She wiped her face. "It's over...it's finally over."
Later on, she and the others dragged the body of Lord Vortex out of the building, and a crowd of civilians gathered to see them toss it into the street.
"Everyone, it's over! We've killed the tyrant, once and for all!" Mayumi exclaimed.
An even bigger crowd began to cheer as they witnessed the body of Lord Vortex. Mayumi kicked it a few times before putting her foot on the head, and Furia spat on the corpse.
"He'll never hurt anyone again! The bastard is burning in hell! We can move forward now, all our sacrifices have paid off!"
A camera crew began to record it, broadcasting it to every channel.
"Breaking news! Lord Vortex is dead! That's right! You've heard it here! The people of New York are finally free! The world is safe!"
A worldwide cheer erupted. Everyone, everywhere, expressed their joy. Back at the scene, a man gave Mayumi and the others a few torches, and they immediately took it.
"No more. Never again."
They used the torches to burn the body, and it quickly went up in flames, reducing it to nothing more than ash...
...but no one saw the amulet, which disappeared into the air in a shimmering flash of silver light.
Once the body was burnt, everyone began to hug each other, relieved that the chaos was over.
But in an alleyway, no one realized what was brewing. A monster, frail, silver, and almost like a mix between a wolf and praying mantis, came out of a silver portal, surveying the area. It saw the gathering between the survivors.
"Ahh. Finally, the moment we've been waiting for."
And across the world, unbeknownst to everyone else, thousands of portals opened, releasing various monsters across the globe.
And meanwhile, in a mansion in uptown Manhattan...
Everything was dark. Hazy. It was like a quiet rest.
"Dear? Hello? Satoshi? Satoshi!"
A young, light-skinned teenager opened his eyes. He looked around, and he was in a bedroom. It had a TV, a bookshelf, a desk, a closet, and even its own bathroom. A woman was knocking at the door, her voice showing concern.
"Satoshi? Young man, if you think just because you turned sixteen that you can ignore your mother—-!"
The boy stood up, feeling around his neck. What he was looking for wasn't there. He saw the news on his TV, which celebrated the death of Lord Vortex.
"Shit."
—-